MOUNTAIN STATE GETS $24 MIL TO EXPAND BROADBAND TO RURAL AREAS

(09/14/2013)

West Virginia is getting a $24 million federal award that will help expand high-speed Internet access in rural areas, while most studies say the state is at or near with bottom with real high-speed broadband.

The Federal Communications Commission says the money will support an expansion of broadband infrastructure, allowing high-speed Internet access to be expanded to at least 40,000 rural homes and businesses in the Mountain State.

While Frontier continues to announce progress with their high-speed service, in most rural counties there is little improvement.

The project was announced by Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin and Rep. Nick Rahall.

Rockefeller said the FCC is an important partner in efforts to bring high-speed Internet to rural communities, and has been urging the FCC through its Connect America Fund to support continued development of broadband infrastructure.

Phone calls regarding who would be eligible for the contract to expand the service were not returned.